Elanoides forficatus en Golfo Dulce

Estimados pajareros.

Ayer tuve la gran oportunidad de realizar una gira por el Golfo Dulce. Cerca del PN Piedras Blancas (no exactamente en el parque) vimos un grupo de aproximadamente 25-30 Elanoides forficatus. No presentaban comportamiento migratorio. Desgraciadamente no pude observarles el dorso con cuidado (estaba en el bote!) para ver el tornasol. Se encontraban volando al nivel del dosel y seguían la linea de la costa. Muy tuanis!

Pablo Porras

Trip Report from Adolfo Mendez to Quetzales NP, Aug. 16th

Trip on Aug-16th.

As I told you earlier, the idea was to take my boss and his family in search of the resplendent quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala, where they are originally from. I read that the quetzal is somewhat rare up there, and very few Guatemalans have seen one. Given its name, we initially visited the recently opened Quetzales NP. Its main entrance is located on kilometer 76 of the Panamerican HW, just in front of the Chespiritos Restaurant. Infrastructure is good and park rangers are very friendly. Because of its high altitude, the quetzal can not be seen on the surroundings of the rangers station. So we took one of the trails and hiked (2 km) towards lower elevations, following instructions from a guide we hired at the station (very friendly also, but not a great birder though). However, no quetzals were to be seen or heard. We returned to the station, jumped inside the car and drove 7 kms towards the village of Providencia, as the guide knew of a specific aguacatillo (Laureacea) tree which was full of fruit. After crossing a river and driving down some steep, scary slopes (4x4 vehicle, experienced driver needed), we got to the aguacatillo which was next to the road and with lots of fruit. And of course, there were plenty of quetzals there (at least 3 individuals taking turns on the tree). After the tough ride and mission accomplished, we decided to have lunch in San Gerardo (some 9 kms from the park entrance), and chose the Trogon Lodge. Ironically, just in front of the restaurant and in full view of the patrons, there was a lauracea tree with abundant fruit...and birds. There was not a moment, while we stayed there, when a quetzal was not there (to the delight of my boss). Emerald toucanets and other species also visited the tree.Conclusion: the park is not a good spot for quetzals, at least this time of year. It is better just to head down to San Gerardo and look in the usual places, just like you recommended. Below, a small list of other species I saw at the park:Black GuanBand-tailed PigeonMagnificent HummingbirdFiery-throated HummingbirdVolcano HummingbirdGray-breasted Wood-WrenBlack-billed Nightingale-ThrushMountain RobinBlack-and-yellow Silky-flycatcherThree-striped WarblerFlame-throated WarblerSooty-capped Bush Tanager

Saludos,
Adolfo

Un Neomorphito

El Miércoles 20, estaba en el teleférico cuando el fotógrafo Juan Carlos Gamboa me llamo para identificar un ave que había fotografiado, me mostró una foto de un pájaro totalmente negro y con una cresta, poseía un anillo ocular azul y ahí empezaron mis sospechas, le pregunté el tamaño y me dijo que era un ave grande y que hacia un sonido con el pico y que estaba a 4 metros en una rama y que se cayo al piso. con esta información pude corroborar mis sospechas y me di cuenta que era un pichón de Neomorphus geoffroyi. Se le tomo un video con un celular a escasos centímetros de distancia y hace un interesante sonido con su pico, el nido de esta especie no esta registrado para nuestro país el nido debe de estar muy cerca de donde fue visto sin embargo no he tenido tiempo para buscarlos, si alguien desea puede comunicarse con Allan Rodriguez del teleférico que estoy seguro los llevará al sitio.

White-winged Becard at El Rodeo

Went birding with Adolfo Mendez on Aug. 9th early morning around el Rodeo. Saw a group of white-winged Becards and Russet Antshrike. I have not see both species in the area before.
Below is list of birds I have seen around the University of Peace in the past several years.

U of Peace List - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: U of Peace List

Help with Bird Call Recording

click on the attached link and then download and listen to the attached wav file I recorded at Rancho at 700 m at 8 am in the morning. I believe this is a white-collared manakin call. It also sounds like an Occelated Antbird call. Can anyone listen and then help me distiguish between the two. Thanks....Lance

http://sites.google.com/site/bucksspot/files

Great Weekend at Rancho Naturalista

I had a fabulous weekend (August 1,2, and 3) of birding at Rancho Naturalista near Turialba. I saw 113 bird over the weekend just in the trails near the lodge. Highlights include seeing a Tawny-throated Leaftosser (Sclerurus mexicanus) at dawn at the hummingbird pools below lodge, a Thrush-like Schiffornis (Schiffornis turdina) on the trails around from hummingbird feeders, White-crowned manakin (Pipra pipra) on upper mountain trail on leks at around 1000 meters altitude, and Garden Emeralds (Chlorostilbon assimilis) feeding on verbinas around lodge. Snowcaps (Microchera albocoronata) and Tawny-chested Flycatchers (Aphanotriccus capitalis) are common at Rancho. The hummingbirds come into the pools at around 3:30 - 4 pm.

An adult pair and juvenile Bi-colored Hawks had been reported by the guide Herman Vemegas and some of the guest recently. In addition, Black-crested Coquettes and a stray White-crested Coquette had been reported by the guests.

Kathy Erb runs an amazing place dedicated to birding and protecting and guarding the environment. The food is great and the staff are friendly and focused on service. Visit her website at www.ranchonaturalista.net or give her a call at 2-433-8278

Great Tinamou
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
White Hawk
Roadside Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Gray-headed Chachalaca
Short-billed Pigeon
Ruddy Pigeon
White-tipped Dove
Gray-chested Dove
Crimson-fronted Parakeet
White-crowned Parrot
Squirrel Cuckoo
Mottled Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Pauraque
Green Hermit
Stripe-throated Hermit
White-necked Jacobin
Brown Violet-ear
Green-breasted Mango
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Green Thorntail
Garden Emerald
Coppery-headed Emerald
Black-bellied Hummingbird
Violet-crowned Woodnymph
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Snowcap
Green-crowned Brilliant
Purple-crowned Fairy
Violaceous Trogon
Collared Trogon
Blue-crowned Motmot
Rufous Motmot
Broad-billed Motmot
Collared Aracari
Keel-billed Toucan
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
Hoffmann's Woodpecker
Golden-olive Woodpecker
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner
Tawny-throated Leaftosser
Plain-brown Woodcreeper
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper
Northern Barred-Woodcreeper
Spotted Woodcreeper
Streak-headed Woodcreeper
Plain Antvireo
Checker-throated Antwren
Dot-winged Antwren
Dusky Antbird
Immaculate Antbird
Black-faced Antthrush
Fulvous-bellied Antpitta
White-collared Manakin
White-ruffed Manakin
White-crowned Manakin
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Mountain Elaenia
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher
Northern Bentbill
Yellow-olive Flycatcher
Tawny-chested Flycatcher
Bright-rumped Attila
Rufous Mourner
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Great Kiskadee
Boat-billed Flycatcher
Social Flycatcher
Gray-capped Flycatcher
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
Tropical Kingbird
Thrush-like Schiffornis
Cinnamon Becard
White-winged Becard
Masked Tityra
Black-throated Wren
Bay Wren
Stripe-breasted Wren
House Wren
White-breasted Wood-Wren
Scaly-breasted Wren
Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush
Clay-colored Robin
Long-billed Gnatwren
Tropical Gnatcatcher
Brown Jay
Lesser Greenlet
Tropical Parula
Bananaquit
Red-throated Ant-Tanager
Crimson-collared Tanager
Passerini's Tanager
Blue-gray Tanager
Palm Tanager
Yellow-crowned Euphonia
Olive-backed Euphonia
Golden-hooded Tanager
Scarlet-thighed Dacnis
Variable Seedeater
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch
Orange-billed Sparrow
Black-striped Sparrow
Buff-throated Saltator
Black-headed Saltator
Melodious Blackbird
Yellow-billed Cacique
Scarlet-rumped Cacique
Chestnut-headed Oropendola
Montezuma Oropendola

Slaty-backed Forest Falcon at Pizote Lodge, Puerto Viejo

I walked the trail above the Pizote Lodge in Puerto Viejo on July 19. I observed a Slaty-backed Forest Falcon (Micrastur mirandollei) at 4 pm at approx. 440 ft. elevation after trail turn up hill. In addition at end of trail on other side of fallen fense, I happened on an army ant swarm with spotted antbirds (Hylophylaw naevioides, observed 1 male) and Ocellated Antbirds (Pahenostictus mcleannani). On way back down trail at approx. 360 ft. elevation at trail intersection to return to lodge and to overlook, I observed group of 6 Black-chested Jays (Cyanocorax affinis).

On July 20th, I birded Kekoldi with guide Alex Paez (great birder). Observed some early raptor migrants (Swallow-tailed Kites and Double-toothed Kites) and 100s of swifts. I recommend him as a guide (8-838-0179, manakinguia@hotmail.com).

Pizote Lodge: http://www.pizotelodge.com/

Has anyone seen a sulphur-rumped Tananger (Heterospingus rubrifrons) in S. Caribean recently?